Amalgam Digital
Young Riot (Cover) - New England Up Front Magazine
In 1987, Reggie Greene suffered multiple gun wounds in a drug-related shooting, just years after his release from prison. Although he survived the attack, Greene’s injuries left him with the most difficult news of his life: his reproductive organs were damaged so severely that he would never be able to have kids, barring some sort of medical phenomenon. 22 years later, Young Riot—slated to elevate Boston hip hop to unprecedented heights— still takes pride in being that phenomenon.
“It was a miracle, if you ask me,” the 21-year old Dorchester native says. “My dad wasn’t supposed to have kids, but I’m here today. Fate put me here for a reason.”
Fate has been instrumental in Riot’s music career as well. As Boston rap label and hip hop’s first genre-specific digital retail store Amalgam Digital’s first previously unsigned artist, the local prodigy first started rapping just a few years ago, after penning a verse to Mobb Deep’s landmark instrumental, “Quiet Storm,” on his dad’s voice recorder.
“I heard the beat and just went off,” Riot recalls. “I always knew I could rap, but once I really got started I knew it was something I had to pursue.”
And pursue it he did. Riot spent the next two years recording new material, in hopes of accumulating enough content to soon record a full album. He eventually caught the attention of an A&R representative at Slip N Slide Records, the Southern imprint home to such artists as Rick Ross, Plies, Trina, and Jagged Edge. At Slip N Slide, Riot began working on a series of “On Da Grind” mixtapes as part of a process administered by the label to develop and evaluate aspiring artists. He purchased a beat package from the label, with hopes that an expanded song catalogue would lead to a record deal with Slip N Slide. But that deal never surfaced, leaving Riot with the difficult challenge of accepting the harsh reality that is the music industry.
“I grew a lot as both an artist and a businessman after what happened with Slip N Slide,” he says. “Everything isn’t what it seems like on TV—nothing comes easy in this world. I was disappointed I didn’t get a deal at the time, but I knew I had to keep grinding. ”
He continued to record in Boston, and even procured a feature in the magazine Hip Hop Weekly’s “Unsigned Hype” section. Still looking for a deal but unable to find one, Riot became heavily interested in Amalgam Digital after hearing one of his favorite artists, Max B, cosign the label in his songs. He registered as a vendor at AmalgamDigital.com, which allowed him to utilize the website’s exclusive user-generated content module to sell his latest mixtape, Studio Sessions, to online consumers through Amalgam Digital’s popular digital store. And then, the power of fate that had followed Riot throughout his life reemerged.
“I started looking for more info on Amalgam, and when I found out they were based in Boston, it was like destiny,” he recalls. “I had just finished Studio Sessions to be distributed on AmalgamDigital.com. Once they heard the music, it was a wrap.”
In May 2009, Amalgam Digital signed Young Riot as the record company’s first previously unsigned artist, placing him among an impressive group of rappers that includes Grammy-nominee Joe Budden, Saigon, Curren$y, and Max B— the artist who first turned Riot onto the label. But just months after Riot inked his deal, in early September 2009, Max B received a 75-year prison sentence for his role in a fatal 2006 robbery, forcing the burgeoning Boston prodigy to accept the departure of his musical mentor.
“It really hurt me when Max went away,” Riot says. “He was just so cool with me genuinely. We recorded a lot of music together and there was more that we wanted to do but never had the chance to. Seeing his work ethic and focus, that’s something that always keeps me motivated.”
Before his prison sentence, Max had passed on his popular “wave movement“ onto the rising star Young Riot. One of the many songs that they recorded will serve as his debut street single. The track, “Living the Life,” also features Amalgam Digital artist Curren$y and was included on his recent digital release, Jet Files, serving as an introduction to fans and showcasing Riot’s diverse stylistic range. Heralded as a versatile writer who can seamlessly transition from street sagas to party jams to radio hits, Riot has also started a street apparel line called Y.O.M.P. (Yes on My Planet) that is slated to be released in 2010. In the meantime, the young talent is focused on expanding his signature “YES” brand and excited for what the future beholds.
“Me and Amalgam have big plans in store for everyone” he says. “There are a lot of other things I do besides music, and people will get to see that soon enough. Yes at me”
Young Riot (Cover) - New England Up Front Magazine
In 1987, Reggie Greene suffered multiple gun wounds in a drug-related shooting, just years after his release from prison. Although he survived the attack, Greene’s injuries left him with the most difficult news of his life: his reproductive organs were damaged so severely that he would never be able to have kids, barring some sort of medical phenomenon. 22 years later, Young Riot—slated to elevate Boston hip hop to unprecedented heights— still takes pride in being that phenomenon.
“It was a miracle, if you ask me,” the 21-year old Dorchester native says. “My dad wasn’t supposed to have kids, but I’m here today. Fate put me here for a reason.”
Fate has been instrumental in Riot’s music career as well. As Boston rap label and hip hop’s first genre-specific digital retail store Amalgam Digital’s first previously unsigned artist, the local prodigy first started rapping just a few years ago, after penning a verse to Mobb Deep’s landmark instrumental, “Quiet Storm,” on his dad’s voice recorder.
“I heard the beat and just went off,” Riot recalls. “I always knew I could rap, but once I really got started I knew it was something I had to pursue.”
And pursue it he did. Riot spent the next two years recording new material, in hopes of accumulating enough content to soon record a full album. He eventually caught the attention of an A&R representative at Slip N Slide Records, the Southern imprint home to such artists as Rick Ross, Plies, Trina, and Jagged Edge. At Slip N Slide, Riot began working on a series of “On Da Grind” mixtapes as part of a process administered by the label to develop and evaluate aspiring artists. He purchased a beat package from the label, with hopes that an expanded song catalogue would lead to a record deal with Slip N Slide. But that deal never surfaced, leaving Riot with the difficult challenge of accepting the harsh reality that is the music industry.
“I grew a lot as both an artist and a businessman after what happened with Slip N Slide,” he says. “Everything isn’t what it seems like on TV—nothing comes easy in this world. I was disappointed I didn’t get a deal at the time, but I knew I had to keep grinding. ”
He continued to record in Boston, and even procured a feature in the magazine Hip Hop Weekly’s “Unsigned Hype” section. Still looking for a deal but unable to find one, Riot became heavily interested in Amalgam Digital after hearing one of his favorite artists, Max B, cosign the label in his songs. He registered as a vendor at AmalgamDigital.com, which allowed him to utilize the website’s exclusive user-generated content module to sell his latest mixtape, Studio Sessions, to online consumers through Amalgam Digital’s popular digital store. And then, the power of fate that had followed Riot throughout his life reemerged.
“I started looking for more info on Amalgam, and when I found out they were based in Boston, it was like destiny,” he recalls. “I had just finished Studio Sessions to be distributed on AmalgamDigital.com. Once they heard the music, it was a wrap.”
In May 2009, Amalgam Digital signed Young Riot as the record company’s first previously unsigned artist, placing him among an impressive group of rappers that includes Grammy-nominee Joe Budden, Saigon, Curren$y, and Max B— the artist who first turned Riot onto the label. But just months after Riot inked his deal, in early September 2009, Max B received a 75-year prison sentence for his role in a fatal 2006 robbery, forcing the burgeoning Boston prodigy to accept the departure of his musical mentor.
“It really hurt me when Max went away,” Riot says. “He was just so cool with me genuinely. We recorded a lot of music together and there was more that we wanted to do but never had the chance to. Seeing his work ethic and focus, that’s something that always keeps me motivated.”
Before his prison sentence, Max had passed on his popular “wave movement“ onto the rising star Young Riot. One of the many songs that they recorded will serve as his debut street single. The track, “Living the Life,” also features Amalgam Digital artist Curren$y and was included on his recent digital release, Jet Files, serving as an introduction to fans and showcasing Riot’s diverse stylistic range. Heralded as a versatile writer who can seamlessly transition from street sagas to party jams to radio hits, Riot has also started a street apparel line called Y.O.M.P. (Yes on My Planet) that is slated to be released in 2010. In the meantime, the young talent is focused on expanding his signature “YES” brand and excited for what the future beholds.
“Me and Amalgam have big plans in store for everyone” he says. “There are a lot of other things I do besides music, and people will get to see that soon enough. Yes at me”